It finally happened. The timing belt snapped...

[sworks]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Remember Andy that MGR doesn't specify an interval for the "ancillaries" (the tensioner and idler pulleys) at all and they are the cause of the rare failures! So much for MGR's position. The belts have been proven to last in excess of 90,000 miles easily. As several KV6 owners have agreed in this thread, the MGR 6 years schedule is a nonsense.

Simon

I work with a few manufacturers products and none state that when the cambelt is changed the tensioner and idlers etc are to be changed also, not just MGR. Even a particular well known data source for garages will give you cambelt change times, procedures and standard repair times but doesn’t state that you must change anything else other than the belt, it’s just assumed and good practice. I think it was Gates products many years ago that I first saw kits including tensioner and idlers and many customers saw this as up sell and would refuse anything other than a belt replacement. It’s considered the norm today to replace everything. Funny old place the motor trade.....

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by coolguy

Actually if the belts are 17 years old, that would have cost at least 2 if not 3 changes if sticking to the "schedule", so the loss is not as stated. Not sure where the figure of £2,000 comes from either.

The 6 year period has just come up on my ZT, but it has only done 9,000 miles, so I shall probably leave it a bit longer. One of my 75s has also hit the 6 year limit, but has done less than 1,000 miles - you've guessed it, I shall leave that one a bit longer too. We all take gambles every day - you have my sympathy.

The biggest cost for our belt change is labour (ie when it's not 'free').
I wouldn't argue the case for NOT following the OEM recommendations, it's just the fact that the poor old toothed belts always get the blame instead of the real culprits, the idlers(s).
In the 70's I did a lot of work with Dayco and belt life. Our OEM equipment was always fitted with Gates' kit but at the time Goodyear, Pirelli and a German outfit called Sychroflex were also looking for business. Our equipment ran pretty well constant load 24/7/345 (=58K hours non-stop) and the T10/T5belts (and there were lots of 'em, many 4-5 longer than our belts, some double sided) were all changed out once/year, the reason being that a broken belt was a complete machine stopper (and as each machine had over 200 production positions) that would be a big loss of production so 'yer paid yer money and took yer choice'.
Even in a harsh environment (for rubber belts with fibre glass and later kevlar reinforcing) belts very very rarely broke and when changed out showed little or no wear unless a worn drive pulley was found in the system (that was usually because the user failed to follow the OEM maintenance recommendations 'to save money') and the centrifugally cast iron pulleys could suffer fretting corrosion. There were idler pulleys that caused the same issues as with our cars except it was often their INA needle rollers that failed.

[StephenEssex]

Letting it do 100k before changing them is pushing it, but I do wish people would stop all this £6.25 per month nonsense. In the real world a garage won't replace your belts and let you pay in instalments of £6.25 for umpteen years. For some people stumping up £500 is just not viable.

Mine were replaced when the car was over 15 years old and 67,000 miles and looked fine. The six year rule is nonsense.

Sorry to hear the bad news Baroquemoon.

[roverbarmy]

My Ford Escort diesel cambelt went three weeks after its three year (Ford recommended) change date. I had done less than 30,000 miles on it and was gobsmacked. The Ford garage quoted in the region of £1200 at the time for a head change but I got it done at an independent garage for £450 as I was incapacitated. The belt cost about £12 at the time! Whichever way you look at it, if you go over the recommended time or miles, it is a gamble. I wonder what cards are in your hand folks?

[egremont]

Hello Matthew, very sorry to learn of your problem.
Have you been in touch with Ashley?
Ashley is in his family’s business and services a friends 75. Very highly regarded.
In case you don’t know them, the business is Trembath’s Automotive Services, 12 Main Street, Ballarat. Phone (03) 5336 3580. They are listed in our local clubs handbook.
Rob Leonard may still have a used engine if needed - resides near Seymour.
Ashley does know “our Rob” in Melbourne. He rebuilds engines to original specs. Our Rob has been acquainted with our cars since he spent time at the MG Rover factory prior to the launch of our cars in Oz. Unfortunately, he is away at present - with a team racing at the Bathurst 1000.

How long will a timing belt last in our cars? Whilst, I plan on a six year change. I saw one at an ex-dealers workshop that had broken after thirteen years. Then I was told that another marque was breaking timing belts with less than 40,000 kilometres on the clock.

In one way you are fortunate Matthew, here in Melbourne we continue to remain in Covid-19 lockdown - after too many weeks and limited to 5 kms travel But don’t despair, you have a. beautiful car and hopefully all will be ok.

[gnu]

I think polymer technology has come on a way since the service schedules were set out for many older cars.

However I do agree that the tensioner pulley is a weak link. In spring this year I did a HG, WP, thermo etc change on the 25, and of course did the timing belt and pulley at the same time. According to the records with the 25, the belt had 25k on it, but was over age. The belt looked fine. I tend to keep certain serviceable parts (not that I ever expect to use them if new are available), so I compared the 25k pulley with one I took off my ZS at 60k a few years ago. The 60k pulley was decidedly rough in comparison. Not saying it was anywhere near failure, but not good. Of course that 60k pulley went in the bin. (The cars above both had k-series engines).

[Sonic ZS]

S542AOX finally came off the road due to the plastic idler collapsing at 116,000 miles (at the hands of the previous owner).

From what information I can gather, the belts had been done previously at a main Rover dealer, but they had changed ONLY the belts, and not the tensioner or idler I knew this, as the idler was still dated 1999....

It's a huge false economy not to change these items (which must rotate many millions or billions of times), when doing the 3 belts.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by sworks

I work with a few manufacturers products and none state that when the cambelt is changed the tensioner and idlers etc are to be changed also, not just MGR.

Hi Mark,

People can't have it both ways. If they're going to adhere strictly to MGR's schedule of 6 years then that's at variance with using their own judgement (not MGR's) on pulley replacement.

Simon

[gnu]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Hi Mark,

People can't have it both ways. If they're going to adhere strictly to MGR's schedule of 6 years then that's at variance with using their own judgement (not MGR's) on pulley replacement.

Simon

I do this all the time. See what is advised, apply my own knowledge and experience and decide what to do. Usually works.

Are you saying you wouldn’t replace the pulley if it’s not in the MG schedule?

[trikey]

Originally Posted by gnu

I think polymer technology has come on a way since the service schedules were set out for many older cars.

However I do agree that the tensioner pulley is a weak link.

You have just contradicted your own theory there, if the polymer technology has advanced in the last 20 years, then surely the plastic tensioners would be a little better by now?